Exmoor National Park Authority

HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1175-6W

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the decision of the Exmoor National Park Authority not to pursue its policy of restricting ownership, with particular reference to second home owners. [37469]

Ms Keeble

Last year, Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) put forward proposals in the context of the National Park local plan review to tackle a shortage of affordable houses for the park community and what it perceived as excessive numbers of second homes.

The Government believed such local policies would give rise to serious problems of definition and enforcement. We therefore objected to the proposed plan policy.

I understand that ENPA are still considering representations made on their deposited local plan and have not made any new decisions about policies, including those on second homes. The Government's position remains unchanged.